Folding cot pack

ABSTRACT

A combination sleeping cot and back-pack includes sheet material and supporting means attached to a frame, which is foldable from an elongate, sleeping cot condition to a relatively short and compact condition as a back-pack, and vice versa. The frame has a relatively narrow terminal portion adapted to fit against the back of a person carrying the back-pack and to support the lower limbs of a person using the cot, and has an opposite, relatively wide, terminal portion as an outer wall part of the back-pack and for supporting the trunk, upper limbs, and head of a person using the cot. Straps are secured to the frame so as to fit over the shoulders of a person carrying the back-pack. The sheet material attached to the frame preferably forms a pack bag under one of the terminal portions of such frame, usually the wide portion, so as to be inside the back-pack and under the cot to facilitate the loading and carrying of items and to make it unnecessary to unpack when using the cot.

United States Patent [191 Cerchione 5] Aug. 13, 1974 FOLDING COT PACK [76] inventor: Joseph D. Cerchione, 365 Cypress [57] TRACT Dr., Idaho Falls, Idaho 83491 Primary Examiner--Robert .l. Spar Assistant ExaminerJerold M. Forsberg Attorney, Agent, or FirmPhilip A. Mallinckrodt A combination sleeping cot and back-pack includes sheet material and supporting means attached to a frame, which is foldable from an elongate, sleeping cot condition to a relatively short and compact condition as a back-pack, and vice versa. The frame has a relatively narrow terminal portion adapted to fit against the back of a person carrying the back-pack and to support the lower limbs of a person using the cot, and has an opposite, relatively wide, terminal portion as an outer wall part of the back-pack and for supporting the trunk, upper limbs, and head of a person using the cot. Straps are secured to the frame so as to fit over the shoulders of a person carrying the back-pack. The sheet material attached to the frame preferably forms a pack bag under one of the terminal portions of such frame, usually the wide portion, so as to be inside the back-pack and under the cot to facilitate the loading and carrying of items and to make it unnecessary to unpack when using the cot.

11 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIED AUG 1 31974 'sumurz FIG. 3

FOLDING COT PACK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field This invention is in the field of combination sleeping cots and back-packs as articles of manufacture.

2. State of the Art Several types of cots, which can be folded or disassembled and made into back-packs, are known. However, these are generally much larger and more awkward to carry and balance on the back than are modern back-packs having rigid frames. Moreover,-the carrying space provided by such foldable cots is usually smaller than that provided by modern back-packs and must be used, in part, to carry separable portions of the cot.

3. Objective It is an objective of the present invention to provide a combination cot and back-pack which is comfortable and easy to balance and carry on the back and which may have at least as much carrying space as a modern, rigid frame back-pack, and one which can be quickly and easily unfolded into a comfortable sleeping cot, without necessitating unloading of the pack or any assembly steps to form the cot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, an elongate frame is foldable from extended cot condition to relatively short and compact back-pack condition, and is unfoldable from the latter condition to the former. Sheet material attached to and extending across such frame provides a body-supporting surface for the cot, and legs attached to the frame provide means to support it in an elevated postiion when unfolded and extended as a sleeping cot. In the folded, back-pack condition, certain sets of such legs project as load-supporting shelves. Straps secured to the frame in customary manner are adapted to fit over the shoulders of a person carrying the back-pack, and a web waist belt may be provided in customary manner if desired.

The elongate frame has a relatively narrow terminal portion at one end, which is adapted to fit comfortably against the back of a person carrying the back-pack and which accommodates the lower limbs of a person lying on the cot. A relatively wide terminal portion at the opposite end of the frame and the sheet material that spans it serve as an outer wall part of the backpack and to accommodate the trunk, upper limbs, and head of a person lying on the cot. Such spanning sheet material also preferably serves as one wall of a pack bag, which is formed by continuing portions of the sheet material to be inside the back-pack and below the cot for facilitating the loading and carrying of items and for making it unnecessary to unpack when converting to the extended cot condition. An intermediate frame portion is advantageously provided between the two terminal portions, diverging from the narrow terminal portion to the wide terminal portion and hingedly connected to a spacer section, which forms a hinged port of the wide terminal portion.

THE DRAWINGS The best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention in actual practice is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the combination sleeping cot and back-pack of the invention in unfolded LII elongate condition as a sleeping cot, a pack bag being formed and located as previously indicated;

FIG. 2, a perspective view of the same combination folded into compact condition as a back-pack;

FIG. 3, a fragmentary perspective view partly in vertical section taken on the line 33, FIG. 2, but rotated clockwise 180 so as to show the opposite side of the pack bag and related portions of the frame and cot legs in pack-supporting positions;

FIG. 4, a view in rear elevation of the back-pack of FIG. 1, portions of the sheet material being broken away so the underlying frame can be seen;

FIG. 5, a corresponding view in side elevation looking from the line 55, in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6, a corresponding view in top plan, looking from the 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7, an enlarged fragmentary detail showing a preferred hinge arrangement employed between the intermediate section and the terminal end portions of the frame;

FIG. 8, a view in elevation looking from the line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9, an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on the line 99 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 10, a view in elevation looking from the line 10-10 in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT The sleeping cot of FIG. 1 is shown folded as a backpack in FIG. 2. As a cot, sheet material 10, attached to an elongate frame 11 supported by leg sets 12, 13, I4, and 15, is adapted to accommodate a person in reclining position. As a back-pack, such sheet material provides flexible front and back panels, with the leg sets 12 and 15 serving in effect as supporting shelves for items to be carried. It is preferred that the sheet material 10 be extended to form a pack bag 16 permanently attached to frame 11 and positioned beneath the cot, as in FIG. 1 and inside the back-pack, as in FIG. 2.

Extending the sheet material 10 to form bag 16 conserves material during manufacture and eliminates unnecessary weight and bulk. As shown, pack bag 16 extends the entire distance between leg sets 14 and 15, so that, in upright position, both of these leg sets support the bag. Although bag 16 is preferably permanently attached to frame 11, with the sheet material 10 forming its front, any type of appropriately sized pack bag can be used. Such pack bag can be detachable if desired, or the back-pack can be made with no pack bag at all. In the latter instance, items to be carried are merely set into the folded cot frame.

In the illustrated form of the invention, pack bag 16 has its open end attached, as by looping over and sewing, to leg set 14 and has a cover flap 17, FIG. 3. It may be provided with side pockets l8, l9, and 20 to securely hold small items.

In accordance with the invention, elongate frame 11 has one terminal portion 11a that is relatively narrow and an opposite terminal portion 11b that is relatively wide, the former serving to fit the back of a person carrying the pack is essentially the same manner as a conventional rigid-frame back-pack and accommodating the lower limbs of a person reclining on the cot, and the latter providing the outer or rear wall of the back-pack and accommodating the trunk, upper limbs, and head of the person reclining on the cot.

Between the two terminal portions 11a and 11b of elongate frame 11, there is preferably provided an intermediate portion 110 which diverges from portion 11a to portion 11b. Relatively wide portion 11b includes a hinged spacer section 21 of length along the longitudinal axis of the frame equal to or approximating the length of the cot legs. Any suitable hinge means may be employed for connecting spacer section 21 to the terminal sections of elongate frame 11.

As illustrated, see particularly FIGS. 7 and 8, the frame members are tubular. A suitable hinge is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 as formed by flattening one end of the tubular frame member 22 of spacer section 21 and attaching a flat tongue hinge member 23 thereto, as by rivets 24. A socket hinge member 25 is formed in the connecting end of tubular frame member 26 of intermediate frame portion 110 by slotting such end, as at 27, and installing bearing blocks 28. The tongue hinge member 23 is received by slot 27 and between bearing blocks 28. The hinge is completed by installing a pivot pin 29.

Upon folding the cot, the two end sections of elongate frame 11 become substantially mutually parallel, with the rigidly fixed leg sets 13, 14, and extending interiorly and the hinged spacer section 21 assuming a substantially perpendicular position relative to each of such end sections.

Leg set 13 is constructed without any cross bracing, so as not to interfere with pack bag 16 upon folding from cot to back-pack. Leg set 12 is preferably hingedly connected to frame terminal portion 11a in any suitable manner, so that it can be folded up out of the way if desired in the back-pack condition or folded down as a shelf for receiving and supporting a sleeping bag or other bulky item to be carried. A brace 30 in leg set 12 is desirable for supporting purposes.

For retaining the folded back-pack condition during use, a latch 31, FIGS. 2 and 5, is provided between each leg member of leg set 15 and the corresponding frame member of frame 11 against which it abuts. In the illustrated form, see FIGS. 9 and 10, each latch 31 comprises an angle bracket 32 secured to the frame member, as by riveting, and a removable pin 33 received by registering holes in the leg member and in the angle bracket, respectively.

Shoulder straps 34, FIG. 2, at respective lateral sides of frame terminal portion 11a connect at their upper ends with frame cross-brace 35 and provide the usual back-pack harness, which may include a web waist belt (not shown) if desired. Such relatively narrow terminal portion 11a is adapted to fit comfortably against the back of a person carrying the back-pack. To this end it will normally be approximately 14 to 16 inches in width. A convenient width for the relatively wide frame terminal portion 11b is approximately 22 to 24 inches. It will thus be apparent that the relatively narrow terminal portion 11a is approximately two-thirds the width of the relatively wide frame terminal portion 11b.

Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with reference to a particular embodiment of a combination back-pack and cot, it should be realized that this represents the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention and is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of protection.

I claim:

1. A combination cot and back-pack, comprising a frame foldable from an elongate condition, providing a sleeping cot, to a relatively short and compact condition, providing a back-pack, said frame comprising a plurality of serially related sections pivotally interconnected, and having one terminal portion relatively narrow as a back-engaging pack frame member when said frame is in its folded condition as a back-pack and the opposite terminal portion relatively to accommodate the main portion of the body of the user when said frame is in its elongate cot condition, the said relatively narrow portion accommodating the legs of the user when the frame is in its elongate cot condition and being approximately two-thirds the width of the relatively wide portion; sheet material attached to said frame as a body support; leg means attached to said frame for supporting it in an elevated position as a cot wherein at least one of said leg means serves as a pack support; and shoulder straps secured to said frame for engaging the shoulders of a person to enable said person to carry the combination as a back-pack.

2. A combination cot and back-pack in accordance with claim 1, wherein opposite end sections and an intermediate spacer section together provide the plurality of serially related frame sections.

3. A combination cot and back-pack in accordance with claim 2, wherein the relatively wide terminal portion of the frame includes an end section and the intermediate spacer section, and the opposite end section includes the relatively narrow end portion and an' intermediate portion of the frame.

4. A combination cot and back-pack, comprising a frame foldable from an elongate condition, providing a sleeping cot, to a relatively short and compact condition, providing a back-pack, said frame having a plurality of serially related sections pivotally inter-connected and including opposite end sections and an intermediate spacer section, said frame having one terminal end portion relatively narrow as a back-engaging pack frame member when said frame is in its folded condition as a back-pack and an opposite terminal portion relatively wide to accommodate the main portion of the body of the user when said frame is in its elongate cot condition, the said relatively wide terminal end portion of the frame including one of the said end sections and the intermediate spacer section, and the opposite end section including the relatively narrow terminal end portion of the frame, the end section included in the relatively wide terminal portion of the frame being shorter than the said opposite end section of the frame; sheet material attached to said frame as a body support; leg means attached to said frame for supporting it in an elevated position as a cot, said leg means comprising four sets of legs, one of said sets being attached to said opposite end section of the frame so as to be spaced below the relatively wide terminal end portion of the frame for use as a supporting shelf for a sleeping bag when the frame is in its position as a back-pack; and shoulder straps secured to said frame for engaging the shoulders of a person to enable said person to carry the combination as a back-pack.

5. A combination cot ,and back-pack in accordance with claim 4, wherein at least the three sets of supporting legs other than the specified one set extend substantially perpendicularly from rigid attachment to the frame.

6. A combination cot and back-pack in accordance with claim 5, wherein the specified one set is hingedly attached to the frame.

7. A combination cot and back-pack in accordance with claim 2, wherein a pack bag is included and attached to the frame so as to be held under the cot and within the back-pack.

8. A combination cot and back-pack, comprising a frame foldable from an elongate condition, providing a sleeping cot, to a relatively short and compact condition, providing a back-pack, said frame having a plurality of serially related sections pivotally inter-connected and including opposite end sections and an intermediate spacer section, said frame having one terminal end portion relatively narrow as a back-engaging pack frame member when said frame is in its folded condition as a back-pack and an opposite terminal portion relatively wide to accommodate the main portion of the body of the user when said frame is in its elongate cot condition; sheet material attached to said frame as a body support; leg means attached to said frame for supporting it in an elevated position as a cot; a pack bag attached to said frame so as to be held under the cot and within the back-pack, said pack bag being formed from extensions of the sheet material and being permanently attached to said frame; and shoulder straps secured to said frame for engaging the shoulders of a person to enable said person to carry the combination as a back-pack.

9. A combination cot and back-pack in accordance with claim 7, wherein the pack bag is formed with an open mouth attached to one of the sets of supporting legs.

10. A combination cot and back-pack in accordance with claim 9, wherein a cover is provided for the open mouth of the pack bag.

11. A combination cot and back-pack in accordance with claim 1, wherein the relatively narrow terminal portion of the frame has a width range of approximately 14 to 16 inches and the relatively wide terminal portion of the frame has a width range of approximately 22 to 24 inches.

. 'r g s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No Dated AUgUSt 13, 1974 Inventor(s) IoseDh Cerchione It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Let'ters'Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 4, line 7 thereof, after the word "relatively" insert wide Signed'and sealed this 22ndda'y of October 1974.

' (SEAL) Attest:

McCOY GIBSON JR. "0; MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A combination cot and back-pack, comprising a frame foldable from an elongate condition, providing a sleeping cot, to a relatively short and compact condition, providing a back-pack, said frame comprising a plurality of serially related sections pivotally inter-connected, and having one terminal portion relatively narrow as a back-engaging pack frame member when said frame is in its folded condition as a back-pack and the opposite terminal portion relatively to accommodate the main portion of the body of the user when said frame is in its elongate cot condition, the said relatively narrow portion accommodating the legs of the user when the frame is in its elongate cot condition and being approximately twO-thirds the width of the relatively wide portion; sheet material attached to said frame as a body support; leg means attached to said frame for supporting it in an elevated position as a cot wherein at least one of said leg means serves as a pack support; and shoulder straps secured to said frame for engaging the shoulders of a person to enable said person to carry the combination as a back-pack.
 2. A combination cot and back-pack in accordance with claim 1, wherein opposite end sections and an intermediate spacer section together provide the plurality of serially related frame sections.
 3. A combination cot and back-pack in accordance with claim 2, wherein the relatively wide terminal portion of the frame includes an end section and the intermediate spacer section, and the opposite end section includes the relatively narrow end portion and an intermediate portion of the frame.
 4. A combination cot and back-pack, comprising a frame foldable from an elongate condition, providing a sleeping cot, to a relatively short and compact condition, providing a back-pack, said frame having a plurality of serially related sections pivotally inter-connected and including opposite end sections and an intermediate spacer section, said frame having one terminal end portion relatively narrow as a back-engaging pack frame member when said frame is in its folded condition as a back-pack and an opposite terminal portion relatively wide to accommodate the main portion of the body of the user when said frame is in its elongate cot condition, the said relatively wide terminal end portion of the frame including one of the said end sections and the intermediate spacer section, and the opposite end section including the relatively narrow terminal end portion of the frame, the end section included in the relatively wide terminal portion of the frame being shorter than the said opposite end section of the frame; sheet material attached to said frame as a body support; leg means attached to said frame for supporting it in an elevated position as a cot, said leg means comprising four sets of legs, one of said sets being attached to said opposite end section of the frame so as to be spaced below the relatively wide terminal end portion of the frame for use as a supporting shelf for a sleeping bag when the frame is in its position as a back-pack; and shoulder straps secured to said frame for engaging the shoulders of a person to enable said person to carry the combination as a back-pack.
 5. A combination cot and back-pack in accordance with claim 4, wherein at least the three sets of supporting legs other than the specified one set extend substantially perpendicularly from rigid attachment to the frame.
 6. A combination cot and back-pack in accordance with claim 5, wherein the specified one set is hingedly attached to the frame.
 7. A combination cot and back-pack in accordance with claim 2, wherein a pack bag is included and attached to the frame so as to be held under the cot and within the back-pack.
 8. A combination cot and back-pack, comprising a frame foldable from an elongate condition, providing a sleeping cot, to a relatively short and compact condition, providing a back-pack, said frame having a plurality of serially related sections pivotally inter-connected and including opposite end sections and an intermediate spacer section, said frame having one terminal end portion relatively narrow as a back-engaging pack frame member when said frame is in its folded condition as a back-pack and an opposite terminal portion relatively wide to accommodate the main portion of the body of the user when said frame is in its elongate cot condition; sheet material attached to said frame as a body support; leg means attached to said frame for supporting it in an elevated position as a cot; a pack bag attached to said frame so as to be held under the cot and within the back-pack, said pack bag being formed from extensions of the sheet material and being permanently attached to said frame; and shoulder straps secured to said frame for engaging the shoulders of a person to enable said person to carry the combination as a back-pack.
 9. A combination cot and back-pack in accordance with claim 7, wherein the pack bag is formed with an open mouth attached to one of the sets of supporting legs.
 10. A combination cot and back-pack in accordance with claim 9, wherein a cover is provided for the open mouth of the pack bag.
 11. A combination cot and back-pack in accordance with claim 1, wherein the relatively narrow terminal portion of the frame has a width range of approximately 14 to 16 inches and the relatively wide terminal portion of the frame has a width range of approximately 22 to 24 inches. 